There have been many predawn mornings when the Espinoza household has been startled by the sound of music resonating from the garage and the clinking of barbell against metal bench.

The fellow responsible for the racket?

That would be Otay Ranch High junior wrestler Alfredo Tomas Espinoza, trying to bulk up his 108-pound frame and perfecting his moves on a mat in front of a mirror.

“All this before school,” said his father, Alfredo Espinoza.

Espinoza’s son, known as “Tommy,” has only been wrestling since his freshman year. While earning a 3.93 grade-point average, he has become a two-time Metro Conference champion, two-time San Diego Section division and masters champ and a two-time state meet qualifier. His record over the past three years: 122-18.

Espinoza wants to wrestle in college at the Division I level.

“I want to go to a really, really good academic and athletic school,” he said

Away from the wrestling room, Espinoza has joined his father the past three years in helping distribute more than 6,000 new athletic shoes to underprivileged kids through the Fred Jordan Mission during the Foot Locker Annual Give Away.

Espinoza has been selected as one of six U-T San Diego All-Academic Team Captains for winter sports. The Captain’s plaque represents each sport’s Student-Athlete of the Year.

In Sunday’s editions, U-T San Diego recognized 3,512 high school juniors and seniors as members of the All-Academic Team for maintaining a 3.0 or higher cumulative, weighted GPA while playing a California Interscholastic Federation-approved varsity sport.

Selection of the Captains, made by the U-T staff, was based on academic and athletic achievement and overall leadership.

Sarah Adams, girls soccer

Westview was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation this season before suffering a heartbreaking loss in the Division II final to La Costa Canyon.

But the otherwise successful season couldn’t have happened without Sarah Adams, the section Player of the Year, whom Westview coach Peter Stogsdill likened to a high school girls soccer version of former FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.

“This year, she stood above the rest of the players on the field,” Stogsdill said.

Adams, whose strengths are math and science, carries a 4.12 GPA, has earned an ACT score of 27 and has accepted a partial scholarship offer to play at Georgetown in the nation’s capital.

“It was the best combination of soccer and academics,” she said. “And the location was really cool.”

Austin Freel, boys soccer

He has been accepted to MIT, which takes fewer than 10 percent of its applicants. If he attends MIT, he plans on playing soccer at the Division III school.

Off the field, the Palomar League Player of the Year and all-section choice identified with AP physics teacher Will Harvie.

“Mr. Harvie is the most inspiring teacher,” said Freel, the Torrey Pines team captain. “I honestly don’t know if I would’ve applied to MIT if I hadn’t had him. He makes you want to learn.”

When Freel is not studying or playing soccer, he’s collecting gently used sports equipment to donate to Sports Gift, a nonprofit that delivers the gear to underprivileged kids around the world.

Shay Young, girls basketball

Her mom is a painter. Her dad is a musician. Shay Young?

“I was never really interested in the whole arts thing,” she said. “I’m more of a science-minded person.”

Young owns a 4.16 GPA and is ranked 16th in the Mount Miguel senior class. She plans on majoring in biology or physics and minoring in political science at New Mexico State, where the 6-foot senior earned a basketball scholarship.

Young, an all-section player who averaged 22.3 points and 9.4 rebounds a game and helped Mount Miguel reach the Division III final, credits an AP government class taught by Jackie Naah for her interest in political science.

“I was never really interested in politics before I took that class,” she said. “I really like it now. I would actually be able to make a difference in my community.”

Joe Rahon, boys basketball

The Aztecs’ James Rahon is his younger brother’s biggest inspiration.

“I’ve always looked up to him and now to see him starting on one of the top teams in the country is just amazing and something I want to do,” said Joe Rahon.

The 6-foot-2 senior all-section point guard for Division I champion Torrey Pines is headed to Boston College and the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“Getting the chance to play in the best basketball conference in the country and also getting a great education was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” he said.

Off the court, the 4.08 GPA student helps physically disabled children play basketball through the San Marcos Youth Shooting Stars program.

Erin Pannek, girls water polo

El Cajon resident Erin Pannek is accustomed to her fingers and toes appearing prune-like. She calls the pool home for three to five hours a day, five days a week during swim and water polo seasons.

She also coaches a 10-and-under girls water polo team for San Diego Shores.

The decorated water polo player, who owns a silver medal from the 2010 Junior Olympics and a bronze medal from last year’s U.S. Club Championships, is reaping more awards. This season, the four-year varsity player and three-year starter was first team All-Western League and all-section.

The Bishop’s captain carries a 4.39 GPA and scored a 2040 on her SAT. She was accepted at Harvard but chose to attend her mother’s alma mater, Indiana, on an academic scholarship. She was attracted to its business school and the opportunity to play Big Ten sports.

Bishop’s coach Doug Peabody said Pannek is the epitome of a captain and a leader.

“She doesn’t look for the accolades or the streamers or championship parades,” Peabody said. “She looks to do all the work that’s necessary for her team to be successful.”